Switch



June 3, 1952 J. B. DlcKsoN 2,599,437

SWITCH Filed Sept. 24, 1948 Patented `inne 3, 1952 1 SWITCH John B. Dickson, Highland Park, Mich., assignor Ito Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich.,

a corporation of Delaware Application September 24, 1948, Serial No. 51,098

8 Claims. (Cl. 2200-67) My invention relates to an improved switch for lighting systems and, more particularly, to a foot dimmer switch for a motor vehicle.

The objects of my invention are to provide a switching Idevice for a motor vehicle lighting sysstem having a relatively few movable parts compared to conventional switches employed for the same purpose; to provide a switch of the type having very few components thereby facilitating assembling and manufacturing thereof; and to provide a switch of very sturdy and lasting construction.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved switch.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. and showing the switch in a compressed position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is an end View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. l

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 and showing a typical electrical system with which my improved switch may be used.

ln the drawings I have shown my improved switch, generally designated by the numeral I0, welded to a bracket I I which is secured to a motor vehicle floor board I2 by screws I3.

The switch I0 comprises a cylindrical tube I4 having one end thereof permanently closed by a plug I5. The other end of the tube I 4 is threaded to receive a threaded plug I6. The innermost extremity of the plug I6 engages a disc I1 which is provided with an integrally connected slotted projection IB which positions one extremity `of a flat spring I9. The other extremity of the spring I9 is positioned by a slotted projection 20 which is integrally connected to the innermost extremity of the plug I5. The spring I 9 is disposed in a bowed position within the tube I4, the amount of bow being determined by how far the plug I6 is threaded into the threaded end of the tube I 4.

The tube I4 is provided with registering slots 2| and 22 disposed in opposite surfaces of the tube. The spring I9 is provided with two ears 23 and '24 secured to the opposite 4faces thereof which extend outwardly in opposite directions. As viewed in Fig. 3the ear 23 has its free end extending through the slot 2I. If, however, as indicated 'by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the spring I9 is bowed in an opposite direction, the ear 24 has its free end extending through the slot 22.

The cylindrical wall of the tube I4 is provided with three electrical contact members 25, 26 and 21 which are secured to the wall of the tube through holes 28, 29, and 3i) therein, respectively. The contact' members 25 and 26 are insulated from the tube I4 by rubber-like sleeves 3| and 32, respectively, while the contact member 21 is insulated from tube I4 by a rubber-like member 33. The contact member 21 is a C configuration having contact tips 34 and 35; the former being adjacent the mem-ber 25; the latter being adjacent the member 26. The outer end portions of all of the contact members 25, 26 and 21 are provided with nuts 36 and 31. The nuts 36 secure the respective contact members to the tube I4 while the nuts 31 secure electrical conductors, hereinafter described, to the respective contact members 25, 26, and 21.

The spring I9 is provided with contact plates 38 and 39 which are secured to the respectively opposite flat faces of the spring with insulation material 40 adhered therebetween. The plates 38 and 39 are so disposed on the spring I9 that when the spring is in a bowed position as shown in Fig. 3, the plate 38 engages the innermost tip of the contact member 25 and the tip 34 of the member 21 thereby electrically connecting them. When the spring I9 is in the bowed position as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the plate 39 engages the innermost tip of the contact member 26 and the tip 35 of the member 21 effecting an electrical connection therebetween.

In order to effect the motion of the spring I9 from one bowed position to the other as indicated in Fig. 3, the switch Ill is provided with a cylindrical cup 40 which receives the end of the tube I4 having the plug I5 therein. rIhe tube I4 and the cup 49 are mounted for relative telescoping movement, the tube and the cup being urged apart by a helical spring 4I which is disposed within the cup 49 between the oor thereof and the extremity of the plug I5. The amount of movement of the cup and tube relative to each other is controlled by a set screw 42 which is threaded through the wall of the tube into the plug I5. A reduced portion 43 of ahead 44 of the screw 42 is disposed within a slot 45 in the wall of the cup 40 thereby limiting the movement of the cup relative to the tube to the length of the slot 45.

As more clearly seen in Fig. 3, the switch i9 is in its normal or uncompressed position. In this position the open end face 46 of the cup 46 engages either the ear 23 or 24 depending upon which bowed position the spring I9 is in. When the spring I9 is in the position as indicated by the solid lines of Fig. 3 and the plate 38 is engaging the member 25 and the tip 34 of the member 21, the end face 46 engages the ear 23. When the cup 40 is moved downwardly toward the floor board I2, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer tip of the ear 23 is moved downwardly forcing the spring I9 over center whereupon it will quickly move with snap action to its other bowed position where the plate 39 engages the member 26 and4 the tip 35 of the member 21. In this position the tip of the ear 24 engages the inner surfaces of' the cylindrical cup 40. During the, downward motion of the cup 40 this ear slidably engages' the inner wall of the cup. When the cup 40 is released to its normal position, the spring I9, moves to the position as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the outer end of ear 24 moving to a position adjacent the open end face 46 of cup 4.0;. Igt isobvicus` that, if this motion of the cup 40 was repeated, the spring I9 would. be; movedv with. snapaction b ack to original bowed position. Asa result all that need be done by the operator is tol compressI the switch and release it asl many timesasdesired, and; each time the spring. I9 will snap, from one bowed position to another.

The pesi-tieni ofthe ears 23 and 24 relative to the springe I`9. =.isv notv critical. It is apparent that they ears may. b e moved a short distance rightwaIdly-or lettwardly, as viewed in- Figs. 2 and 3, without effecting the operation of the springs. If the.ear s,2 3 and 24 were positioned on the spring [95.241 a lQca-,tionwhichapproximates the. maximumbow point of the spring, any force applied to,the-,earsw,ouldtend to twist the spring I9 then to, effect muvement from one bowed position to another. It is. therefore, very desirable to positionthe ears.-A relative to the spring at a location substantially as shown in the drawings so that minimum force is. required` to effect. the Snap action. of, the spring from one bowed position to the-other.

In Fig. 5, If: have shown a typical electrical system withwhichmy improvedV switch may be employed. A conductor 46 connects'the member. 2.1. toonev terminal of a. battery. 41;. The other terminal ofgthe battery'41 is connected byga conductor 4.8ithroug-h a switch 49 to a. common terminalv 50i of iaments 5I and 52l of` a lamp 5,3; Themember 25j.is.connected to the other terminal of the. filament 5I byy a conductor 54. while the member 26v is-connected tothe other terminal of` thelament 52. by a conductor 55. When. the switch49 is closed andthe spring Illis in the position, as shown in\ Fig. 5, the current flows from the battery 41.through the conductor 48, thefil'ament I, the-conductor 54, the contact member 25, the-plate 38, the contact member 21, and back to thebattery through conductor 46', thereby lightingv the lamp 5,3 by energizing the filament 5i. When the spring I9is in theA positionas indicated by the dashedlinesin Fig, 3 and the switch49 is closed, the current ows from the battery 41 through ,thev conductor` 48, the lament 52, the conductor 55, the contact member 28,.the plate. 39., thecontacrfl member 21, and backV to the battery through. conductor 46', thereby lightingthe lamp 53-byenergizingthe filament 5I.

Although I have shown my improved switch so,

of my invention,- the switch may be employedfor;

a multiplicity-of uses- I claim:

1. A switching device for regulating a lighting system comprising a tubular member closed at both ends and having a pair of opposed slots intermediate said ends, electrical contact elements having portions disposed Within said tubular member, a resilient member within said tubular member between said closed endsl and disposed in a bowed position to electrically contact one of said contact elements, said resilient member being adapted to be disposed in another bowed position to electrically contact another of said contact elements, opposed ears secured to said resilient member and having one thereof extending.4 into. one. ofv said slots, and means adapted to engage saidv ears and to urge the same in substantially the direction of the length of said tubular member to effect movement of said resilient member from one bowed position to another.

2. A switching device for regulating a lighting system comprisingV a tubular member closed at both ends, electrical contact elements having portions disposed. within. said tubular member, a resilient member withinY said tubular member disposed between said closed ends in a bowed position tol electrically contact one of said contact elements. said resilient member being adapted. to. be disposed. in an opposi-tcly bowed position. to. electrically contact another of said contact elements, opposed ears. secured to said. resilient. member, and meansadapted to engage said ears..

and to urge the same in substantially the direction of the length of said tubular member toetect snapping movement of saidA resilient member from one bowed position. to another.

3. A switching device-for regulating a.. lighting system comprising a tubular member having opposed abutments therein, electrical contact elements having` portions. thereof disposed within said. tubular member, a. ilatk resilient member within said tubular member disposed between saidabutments in a bowed position to electrically connect a pair of said contact elements, said.

resilient member being adapted to be disposed in another bowed position to electrically connect another pair of said contact elements, opposed ears secured to said resilient. member,l and a. spring .pressed cylindrical cup having one end of said tubular member movement of said. resilient member. from. one bowed positionto another.

4. A switching device for optionally. changing,

a-n electric system` froma. rst circuit to'a second circuit comprising. a. tubular memberfcontact.

elements. for said first andsecondA circuits. dis.-

posed in saidf tubular. member, resilient. means: withinsaid tubular.. member disposed-ina bowedA position to contact one; oi.I said contact` elements:

to close one. of. said circuits, saidresilient, means being` adapted. tofbebowed in an opposite;- direc.-

tion,to connect another.` ofsaid` contact elements` to close theA other ofsaid circuits, and; a. spring pressed. cylindrical c up.. having oneA end. of said tubularmemberf receivable thereinf andIv adaptedto,v engageA said; resilient means to effect snapping; movement, thereof 1 fromY one. bowed` position: to.

another.

5.- A switching device. for-regulating alighting system comprising, first. and second'` telescoping. tubular members,- electrical contact; elementshavingl portions .thereof withinM said rst; tubular.I member-for connecting4 said switchy into said; sys,-

tems. a-atspring Wit-hin said '.rsttubulan mem-v ber." disposedr in aY bowedipcsitiontofcontact. at

receivable therein. and. Y adaptedto alternately engage said ears to.V effect least one of said contact elements, said spring adapted to be bowed in an opposite position to contact at least another of said contact elements, and opposed ears secured to said spring and adapted to be engaged by said second tubular member to eiect movement of said spring from one bowed position to another.

6. An electrical switch comprising first and second telescoping tubular members, a flat spring disposed within said second member in a bowed position, electrical contact points disposed within said second member, and opposed ears secured to said spring and extending outwardly therefrom, said first tubular member having portions adapted to selectively engage said ears to effect over-center movement of said spring from one bowed position to another for cooperation with said contact points.

7. An electrical switch comprising inner and outer telescoping tubular members, said inner member having closed ends and opposed slots, circuit means within said inner member, a iiat spring disposed within said inner member between said ends in a bowed position, and opposed ears secured to said spring and extending outwardly therefrom, one of said ears having a portion extending out of one of said slots when said spring is in said bowed position, said outer tubular member having portions adapted to selectively engage said ears to effect over-center movement of said spring from one bowed position to another for controlling electrical operation of said circuit means.

8. A switching device for controlling an electrical circuit comprising a tubular member having opposite abutments therein, contact surfaces for said circuit disposed within said tubular member, spring means extending lengthwise within said tubular member disposed between said abutments and bowed in one direction to engage said surfaces, said spring means being adapted to be bowed in an opposite direction to disengage said surfaces, and means for eiecting movement of said spring means from one bowed position to another including a tubular member receiving a portion of said rst mentioned tubular member therein in a telescoping manner and engageable with said spring means.

JOHN B. DICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,395,698 Tiiany Feb. 26, 1946 2,415,448 Stillwell, Jr Feb. 1l, 1947 2,424,527 Whyte et al July 22, 1947 2,444,529 Puster July 6, 1948 2,479,313 Clark Aug. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 572,720 France Feb. 27, 1924 645,292 Germany May 25, 1937 

